Gym equipment recommendation from a fat guy (1 Viewer)

[Otis]

At age 22 Otis was in great shape. Approaching 40 with a wife and kids, Otis is a bit more hefty.

That said, I was hefty in college and got in great shape using the Total Gym of all things. A low cal diet and some chest, back, and arm exercises on that thing were money.

On my latest health kick I found the perfect item. For 150 bucks, the knock off below is worth every penny:

http://www.amazon.com/Weider-WEBE15911-Ultimate-Body-Works/dp/B00B48ISLU/ref=dp_ob_title_sports

Really happy with it after a couple days. Well worth the value if you're a fat guy trying to become a studly guy. Highly recommend.

OT

 

[Raider Nation]

Stupid question: can we build muscle "bench pressing" resistance bands the way you do with free weights?

 

[mr roboto]

Stupid question: can we build muscle "bench pressing" resistance bands the way you do with free weights?

Yes.

 

[Otis]

Stupid question: can we build muscle "bench pressing" resistance bands the way you do with free weights?

Yes.

No question. This thing also has a mechanism for adding bunjee chord resistance to the body weight stuff. I'll never need it. Last time I did this, in nine months I got in great shape with one of these just using body weight. I did a sort low cal diet too, but still. It works. You won't look like Stallone but you can put on serious lean muscle.

 

[mr roboto]

You can build muscle by doing anything with resistance. 40 lbs is 40 lbs. Doesn't matter if it's your body weight, free weights, bands, rocks, small children. Muscles are stupid linear motors. Provide them resistance, keep force off of joints.

 

[Otis]

Stupid question: can we build muscle "bench pressing" resistance bands the way you do with free weights?

By the way GB, these are not bands. It's a pulley system that uses your body weight and gravity. Something about it gives me a better workout than free weights.

 

[Raider Nation]

Stupid question: can we build muscle "bench pressing" resistance bands the way you do with free weights?

By the way GB, these are not bands. It's a pulley system that uses your body weight and gravity. Something about it gives me a better workout than free weights.

It says that right in your link:

Resistance Bands: Provides the option to increase weight resistance up to 50-pounds with the addition of the four resistance bands

 

[rockaction]

Stupid question: can we build muscle "bench pressing" resistance bands the way you do with free weights?

By the way GB, these are not bands. It's a pulley system that uses your body weight and gravity. Something about it gives me a better workout than free weights.

Maybe them throwing in an aerobic part with that rowing motion? No snark, just a guess from the infomercials.

 

[mr roboto]

Stupid question: can we build muscle "bench pressing" resistance bands the way you do with free weights?

By the way GB, these are not bands. It's a pulley system that uses your body weight and gravity. Something about it gives me a better workout than free weights.

Maybe them throwing in an aerobic part with that rowing motion? No snark, just a guess from the infomercials.

It's harder to get momentum and lift quickly on an incline body weight machine. Momentum reduces the weight, which reduces effectiveness. Lift slow and your results will increase.

 

[Otis]

Stupid question: can we build muscle "bench pressing" resistance bands the way you do with free weights?

By the way GB, these are not bands. It's a pulley system that uses your body weight and gravity. Something about it gives me a better workout than free weights.

It says that right in your link:

Resistance Bands: Provides the option to increase weight resistance up to 50-pounds with the addition of the four resistance bands

Ah. Yeah that's the add on thing I mentioned. The basic premise of this machine though is body weight.

 

[Otis]

Stupid question: can we build muscle "bench pressing" resistance bands the way you do with free weights?

By the way GB, these are not bands. It's a pulley system that uses your body weight and gravity. Something about it gives me a better workout than free weights.

Maybe them throwing in an aerobic part with that rowing motion? No snark, just a guess from the infomercials.

It's lower weight, but more constant resistance throughout the movement. It also uses more or different stabilizing muscles I think. It feels like an easier workout in a sense, but a better workout. If that can be reconciled somehow.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

My Mimaw uses the same one! She's 91!

 

[Maik Jeaunz]

Non-sarcastic question: why not skip the gimmicks and just throw around some iron?

 

[flapgreen]

For a guy who doesn't eat lunch, how did you get to be so fat? You must start eating large pizzas as soon as you get home at night.

 

[flapgreen]

My Mimaw uses the same one! She's 91!

 

[Homer J Simpson]

For a guy who doesn't eat lunch, how did you get to be so fat? You must start eating large pizzas as soon as you get home at night.

He finally found a meal between breakfast and brunch.

 

[Nipsey]

That thing is two weeks away from being a $150 coat rack.

 

[flapgreen]

 

[Otis]

That thing is two weeks away from being a $150 coat rack.

Which also isn't a terrible deal, by the way.

 

[LinusMarr]

Go to the gym and grab some damn weights! Don't be "that guy" who has on his "everybody's workin for the weekend" headband on and using these rubber band thingys for resistance. Good grief....

 

[Otis]

Go to the gym and grab some damn weights! Don't be "that guy" who has on his "everybody's workin for the weekend" headband on and using these rubber band thingys for resistance. Good grief....

Eh.

 

[LinusMarr]

Go to the gym and grab some damn weights! Don't be "that guy" who has on his "everybody's workin for the weekend" headband on and using these rubber band thingys for resistance. Good grief....

Eh.

You can do it, slim....

 

[Statcruncher]

That said, I was hefty in college and got in great shape using the Total Gym of all things. A low cal diet and some chest, back, and arm exercises on that thing were money.

Lol, if you only worked your upper body I'm pretty sure you weren't in great shape. And pardon me, but taking fitness advice from you should pretty much be the last thing anyone should do. Given your past, this thing will probably have a shelf life of about 3 weeks. Not that my opinion should carry anymore weight than yours, but here's a link to my thoughts on the Total Gym (the formatting sucks though).

 

[NutterButter]

You're a fad diet/exercise poster child

 

[dickey moe]

A $150 device for your limbs made in China with wheels and pulleys? This should end well.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I'm hardly one to talk, but what does that give you that standard body weight exercises (push-ups, dive bombers (eventually pull-ups), dips, planks, squats, lunges) can't?

 

[culdeus]

Oof

 

[Keerock]

Otis - The Eminence of Fitness

 

[Otis]

KICKINGROCK

 

[jamny]

Otis - The Eminence of Fitness

 

[Zow]

For a guy who doesn't eat lunch, how did you get to be so fat? You must start eating large pizzas as soon as you get home at night.

Skipping lunch doesn't exactly lead to weight loss.

 

[OC Zed]

 

[Otis]

Knocked out a couple sets this morning. Feel like dynamite.

 

[Zow]

Knocked out a couple sets this morning. Feel like dynamite.

Be sure to eat lunch then. Seriously.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Otis - The Eminence of Fitness

 

[Chaka]

P90

P90M

P90X

P90X+

P90X2

From 0 to shredded in 15 months.

 

[tri-man 47]

That said, I was hefty in college and got in great shape using the Total Gym of all things. A low cal diet and some chest, back, and arm exercises on that thing were money.

Lol, if you only worked your upper body I'm pretty sure you weren't in great shape. And pardon me, but taking fitness advice from you should pretty much be the last thing anyone should do. Given your past, this thing will probably have a shelf life of about 3 weeks. Not that my opinion should carry anymore weight than yours, but here's a link to my thoughts on the Total Gym (the formatting sucks though).

Statcruncher - great comments over there. I'd used a Bowflex many years back in a university gym where I worked and really liked that machine.

 

[Otis]

That said, I was hefty in college and got in great shape using the Total Gym of all things. A low cal diet and some chest, back, and arm exercises on that thing were money.

Lol, if you only worked your upper body I'm pretty sure you weren't in great shape. And pardon me, but taking fitness advice from you should pretty much be the last thing anyone should do. Given your past, this thing will probably have a shelf life of about 3 weeks. Not that my opinion should carry anymore weight than yours, but here's a link to my thoughts on the Total Gym (the formatting sucks though).

Statcruncher - great comments over there. I'd used a Bowflex many years back in a university gym where I worked and really liked that machine.

Guess I just don't agree. I loved the upper body exercise I got out of the total gym. No, you're right, I didn't use it for lower body. I ran for that. And these days I have a short circuit workout courtesy of Tanner in another thread which I've found is fantastic for a lower body. So, my current plan is to combined that 10 minute circuit workout, which mostly hits lower body, with some total gym for chest, back, and arms (and which also, by nature of the machine, hits you in your core and all your stabilizing muscles).

I had a fantastic experience with the total gym. I thought it felt great and was great for trimming down and putting on some lean muscle up top. No, it's not for bodybuilder types or guys who want to look like Jersey Shore apes; and it probably doesn't fit the bill for a few other folks. But for a guy who's just looking for a little muscle and strength and a basic athletic build, it worked for me in the past.



Different strokes.

 

[Quez]

This piece of equipment looks ok if you have to miss a gym workout. I just got back in the gym and bought some rubber coated hex weights to use in my garage. Between those & bands I can get in a decent enough workout when I can't make it to the gym.

 

[Otis]

This piece of equipment looks ok if you have to miss a gym workout. I just got back in the gym and bought some rubber coated hex weights to use in my garage. Between those & bands I can get in a decent enough workout when I can't make it to the gym.

For $150, I just thought I was passing along a tip on some decent value here.

If you put it at the greatest incline, you can get a decent upper body workout.

 

[Mister Martie]

I'll keep this in mind for when I turn 70.

 

[Statcruncher]

This piece of equipment looks ok if you have to miss a gym workout. I just got back in the gym and bought some rubber coated hex weights to use in my garage. Between those & bands I can get in a decent enough workout when I can't make it to the gym.

For $150, I just thought I was passing along a tip on some decent value here.

If you put it at the greatest incline, you can get a decent upper body workout.

Not trying to dogpile you, but neither fitness nor value are really your strong suite.

 

[Maik Jeaunz]

it looks like it doesn't take up a lot of space. you probably have room for one of these, too.

 

[tri-man 47]

This piece of equipment looks ok if you have to miss a gym workout. I just got back in the gym and bought some rubber coated hex weights to use in my garage. Between those & bands I can get in a decent enough workout when I can't make it to the gym.

For $150, I just thought I was passing along a tip on some decent value here.

If you put it at the greatest incline, you can get a decent upper body workout.

Fair enough. It's generally easy enough to address the lower body through squats, lunges, etc. A number of approaches can be used for the upper body - Total Gym, Bowflex, an Iron Gym ($30; for pull-ups), dumbbells, push-ups, etc.

 

[Otis]

This piece of equipment looks ok if you have to miss a gym workout. I just got back in the gym and bought some rubber coated hex weights to use in my garage. Between those & bands I can get in a decent enough workout when I can't make it to the gym.

For $150, I just thought I was passing along a tip on some decent value here.

If you put it at the greatest incline, you can get a decent upper body workout.

Not trying to dogpile you, but neither fitness nor value are really your strong suite.

Fair point. Although fitness once was something I had down pretty well, and this thing helped me get there.

Think of it this way -- if this thing can make fat Otis into a guy in solid shape? Christ, it's a miracle worker.

Word?

 

[MAC_32]

That said, I was hefty in college and got in great shape using the Total Gym of all things. A low cal diet and some chest, back, and arm exercises on that thing were money.

Lol, if you only worked your upper body I'm pretty sure you weren't in great shape. And pardon me, but taking fitness advice from you should pretty much be the last thing anyone should do. Given your past, this thing will probably have a shelf life of about 3 weeks. Not that my opinion should carry anymore weight than yours, but here's a link to my thoughts on the Total Gym (the formatting sucks though).

Statcruncher - great comments over there. I'd used a Bowflex many years back in a university gym where I worked and really liked that machine.

Guess I just don't agree. I loved the upper body exercise I got out of the total gym. No, you're right, I didn't use it for lower body. I ran for that. And these days I have a short circuit workout courtesy of Tanner in another thread which I've found is fantastic for a lower body. So, my current plan is to combined that 10 minute circuit workout, which mostly hits lower body, with some total gym for chest, back, and arms (and which also, by nature of the machine, hits you in your core and all your stabilizing muscles).

I had a fantastic experience with the total gym. I thought it felt great and was great for trimming down and putting on some lean muscle up top. No, it's not for bodybuilder types or guys who want to look like Jersey Shore apes; and it probably doesn't fit the bill for a few other folks. But for a guy who's just looking for a little muscle and strength and a basic athletic build, it worked for me in the past.



Different strokes.

wai-wai-wai-wayaminute. You RAN for lower body strength training? I'm reading this right, yes?

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Otis, have you thought about prancercising?

 

[Homer J Simpson]

That said, I was hefty in college and got in great shape using the Total Gym of all things. A low cal diet and some chest, back, and arm exercises on that thing were money.

Lol, if you only worked your upper body I'm pretty sure you weren't in great shape. And pardon me, but taking fitness advice from you should pretty much be the last thing anyone should do. Given your past, this thing will probably have a shelf life of about 3 weeks. Not that my opinion should carry anymore weight than yours, but here's a link to my thoughts on the Total Gym (the formatting sucks though).

Statcruncher - great comments over there. I'd used a Bowflex many years back in a university gym where I worked and really liked that machine.

Guess I just don't agree. I loved the upper body exercise I got out of the total gym. No, you're right, I didn't use it for lower body. I ran for that. And these days I have a short circuit workout courtesy of Tanner in another thread which I've found is fantastic for a lower body. So, my current plan is to combined that 10 minute circuit workout, which mostly hits lower body, with some total gym for chest, back, and arms (and which also, by nature of the machine, hits you in your core and all your stabilizing muscles).

I had a fantastic experience with the total gym. I thought it felt great and was great for trimming down and putting on some lean muscle up top. No, it's not for bodybuilder types or guys who want to look like Jersey Shore apes; and it probably doesn't fit the bill for a few other folks. But for a guy who's just looking for a little muscle and strength and a basic athletic build, it worked for me in the past.



Different strokes.

wai-wai-wai-wayaminute. You RAN for lower body strength training? I'm reading this right, yes?

FYI, a lot of guys don't have to do lower body training to have strong legs that are proportional. We're not talking about this guy here.

 

[Otis]

That said, I was hefty in college and got in great shape using the Total Gym of all things. A low cal diet and some chest, back, and arm exercises on that thing were money.

Lol, if you only worked your upper body I'm pretty sure you weren't in great shape. And pardon me, but taking fitness advice from you should pretty much be the last thing anyone should do. Given your past, this thing will probably have a shelf life of about 3 weeks. Not that my opinion should carry anymore weight than yours, but here's a link to my thoughts on the Total Gym (the formatting sucks though).

Statcruncher - great comments over there. I'd used a Bowflex many years back in a university gym where I worked and really liked that machine.

Guess I just don't agree. I loved the upper body exercise I got out of the total gym. No, you're right, I didn't use it for lower body. I ran for that. And these days I have a short circuit workout courtesy of Tanner in another thread which I've found is fantastic for a lower body. So, my current plan is to combined that 10 minute circuit workout, which mostly hits lower body, with some total gym for chest, back, and arms (and which also, by nature of the machine, hits you in your core and all your stabilizing muscles).

I had a fantastic experience with the total gym. I thought it felt great and was great for trimming down and putting on some lean muscle up top. No, it's not for bodybuilder types or guys who want to look like Jersey Shore apes; and it probably doesn't fit the bill for a few other folks. But for a guy who's just looking for a little muscle and strength and a basic athletic build, it worked for me in the past.



Different strokes.

wai-wai-wai-wayaminute. You RAN for lower body strength training? I'm reading this right, yes?

No I ran to get a workout on my lower body and cardio. I never was interested in building bulky legs.

 

[Otis]

Otis, have you thought about prancercising?

Every day.